Shades of Grief: Echoes of Hope from the Darkness

Dr. Kendall writes in a way that makes you feel like you are not alone in your grief journey. Her words are analogous to a friend holding your hand during difficult times, and lifting you up when you need hope. Each story and illustration provides this type of support and leads the reader to a place of healing.

This beautiful compilation of personal short stories deeply moved me and ignited a familiarity that will resonate with anyone reading this heart-centered book. Shades of Grief, Echoes of Hope from the Darkness, is a gift and treasure for anyone who has suffered loss, whether a loved one, a relationship, a beloved pet, a situation that didn’t go our way, or unfulfilled dreams that never came to fruition. In reading each story of sometimes intense loss, you one day realize that to live fully, hope has always been there, waiting patiently to be embraced. The echoes can be heard in the still internal voice, eventually moving one forward out of the darkness, even if one breath at a time or something as simple as a ray of sunlight. I highly recommend this book as a gift to yourself or anyone who has endured emotional, mental, or physical pain. One thing for certain in this journey called life is that pain is inevitable but hope and moving forward toward the light is always available to each of us, as beautifully illustrated in the words and photos on each page.

I picked this book up and put it down several times before starting to read it. I kept deciding that today is not a day I want to cry or think about my loved ones that are no longer here on earth. I wish I had started reading this beautifully written book sooner! It felt like I was having a conversation with a much wiser family member or friend. It was like having a conversation with that person that just “gets it.” That person who understands what is most important in life. I believe the author’s goal is to share a part of her soul that throughout her life has experienced the greatest highs and the lowest of the lows. Through her work as a physician, she has created relationships and bonds with patients and their families that are incredibly deep and meaningful and yet has had to let go and say goodbye to many of those people. She has also shared the struggle of saying goodbye to members of her own family. She has given us a window into those relationships through her storytelling and poems. She shows you beauty where you might only want to see pain. The author made me want to meet these people that she writes about. I want to experience their personalities and know their stories firsthand. While in reality that’s not possible I do feel like I came as close as possible. While I cried reading almost every page my tears were tears of gratitude. The author made me appreciate the beauty in my own loss. Sometimes it is easier to push even the happiest of memories away, but this book made me embrace and value those feelings. It helped me reflect on my own grief and feel joy for the time that I have had with so many loved ones that have passed on. I think anyone that aspires to live with an attitude of gratitude will find this book worth their time!

This book is written in such an open and beautiful way that anyone can relate to the author’s grief as their own. It helped to know someone grieved as I did and was able to find hope . It gave me hope that I will be able to walk the rest of my journey, maybe alone, but with my beautiful memories I was privileged to have. Thank you Dr. Kendall